Service with a smile as Ballymena notch first win

Captain James Kennedy again lost what was thought to be a crucial toss as Ballymena took to the field in extremely hot and tiring conditions.

They needn't have worried, however, as Glass ripped through CSNI's top order batsmen reducing them in the 15th over to 29 for 4. Dyer was brilliantly caught at second slip by Aphale as the ball rebounded off the chest of first slip and Irish international Jones followed two balls later from a sharp catch by Robert Kennedy at gully.

McKee and Fisher didn't last long either as Glass, bowling with superb accuracy, eventually gained the rewards his bowling had deserved all season. He finished with excellent figures of 4 for 20 off his 10 overs.

With the home side on the ropes, it took a fantastic innings from their overseas professional Noema-Barnett to get them up to a competitive score. He constructed an excellent 97 before being bowled by Aphale, leaving him three runs short of what would have been a well deserved century.

Ballymena's bowlers had a excellent day with the ball, each one bowled to the plans that had been put in place and eventually restricted CSNI to a well below 'par score' of 180. The other wickets were shared between Simon McDowell and Carl Williams. Matthew Purse and David Thompson also bowled well and were unfortunate not to pick up a wicket.

Kennedy was delighted with his team's first innings efforts: "Only conceding three 'extras' shows the skill levels of the bowlers and to be able to restrict a team of that quality on an excellent pitch and fast scoring outfield was a fabulous effort.

"The guys bowled and fielded superbly, spearheaded of course by 'Glassy'''.

Scoring runs has not been a problem this season for a side stacked with batting however no one watching or indeed playing could have imagined just how comfortably Ballymena would have knocked off the runs.

The 'chase' was based around a superb opening partnership of 119 by Robert Kennedy and Carl Williams which included aggressive stroke play and intelligent running between the wickets.

Williams got off to his typically free scoring start, frustrating bowlers with his unorthodox but very effective style and he had reached 24 before Kennedy got off the mark. Williams sent the ball to the boundary frequently in his 89 ball innings and unfortunately was eventually out stumped only two short of what would have been well deserved half century.

William's partner, Kennedy, after a cautious start began to dominate the bowling, finding the boundary on 11 occasions in his 121 ball innings, finishing unbeaten on 86 not out.

When the partnership was eventually broken there was still some work to be done however an entertaining cameo of 30 not out from David Kennedy, including 23 off one over from opening bowler, Noema-Barnett, finished it in double quick time.

Ballymena will be looking to register another win this Saturday, when Lurgan are the visitors to Eaton Park. The match starts at 1pm and is followed by the club’s annual duck race and bbq.

CSNI

S Dyer c Aphale b Glass1

G McKee c Aphale b Glass17

N Jones c R Kennedy b Glass59

K Noema-Barnett b Aphale97

P Fisher b Glass0

C Beverland c D Kennedy b Williams20

H Coulter run out30

A Coulter b McDowell2

C Goodall lbw b McDowell0

J Costain not out2

C Andrews run out1

Extras10

Total (48.3 overs)180

Bowling: M Glass 10-3-20-4; M Purse 5-0-14-0; K Aphale 9-2-39-1; S McDowell 9.3-1-40-2; C Williams 10-0-42-1; D Thompson 5-0-18-0.

BALLYMENA

R Kennedy not out86

C Williams st Goodall b Andrews48

D Kennedy not out30

Extras20

Total (1 wkt, 44.1 overs) 184

Bowling: K Noema-Barnett 10-0-32-0; N Jones 5-0-22-0; J Costain 5-1-19-0; A Coulter 8-0-37-0; C Andrews 10-1-20-1; H Coulter 6-0-35-0; P Fisher 0.1-0-4-0.